United News of Bangladesh

A protest march under the banner of ‘Bangladesh Against Rape and Oppression’ faced police obstruction near Hotel Intercontinental as demonstrators attempted to proceed towards Chief Adviser’s official residence Jamuna to submit a memorandum demanding justice for the victims of sexual violence. The demonstrators, who had gathered at the Raju Bhashkarjiya (Raju Memorial Sculpture) on the Dhaka University campus, began their march towards Jamuna in the early afternoon. Their demands included the resignation of the Home Affairs Adviser over the government’s failure to curb the ongoing incidents of murder, rape and sexual violence. They also called for the establishment of a fast-track tribunal to ensure justice for all victims, including eight-year-old Achia. Around 2:30 pm, as the march crossed Shahbagh and reached the Hotel Intercontinental intersection, police erected barricades to stop them from advancing further. Shahbagh erupts in protests as students demand justice for rape victims The protesters attempted to push past the barricades, leading to scuffles with the police. The altercations took place in multiple phases as law enforcers sought to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. The protesters alleged that the police had resorted to aggressive tactics reminiscent of previous Awami League administrations to suppress their rightful demands. They claimed that instead of allowing them to submit a memorandum against rape, the authorities had confronted them with force. Crime surges in Bagerhat; 23 killed, 21 raped in seven months Later, the demonstrators moved back to the Raju Bhashkarjiya.

Three associate bodies of the BNP—Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal—began their road march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Sunday morning to protest the attack on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala and the desecration of the country's national flag. The programme is also intended to register protests against what the party describes as an Indian plot to incite communal riots in Bangladesh. Thousands of leaders and activists from the three BNP associate bodies formally began the march from the party's Nayapaltan central office at 11:30am. Before launching the march, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, along with top leaders from the three organisations, delivered brief speeches, condemning the Indian ruling party and media for attempting to disrupt religious harmony in Bangladesh through false and misleading campaigns. Read: BNP’s road march towards Indian High Commission Sunday The leaders and supporters of the BNP associate organisations were seen gathering in front of the BNP office from 9:30 am, with small processions arriving from various parts of the capital.

The Left Democratic Alliance's Barisal district committee held a protest march and rally today calling for the overthrow of the government, establishment of democracy, right to vote, an end to gas and electricity price hikes, and lower pricing of daily essentials. Alliance leaders who spoke at the rally said that the current Awami League regime has strengthened their party's looters in the name of development. “They made their second abode in Canada, known as Begum Para. This government has increased the price of electricity 11 times in the last 14 years.   They will not be saved, no matter how much this illegitimate government talks about development,” said the speakers. Also Read: Revoke power price hike or face street protests: BNP to govt  The district coordinator of the Left Democratic Alliance, Professor Dulal Chandra Majumdar presided while the district president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Professor Mizanur Rahman, the district general secretary of the Revolutionary Communist League, Professor Nripendra Nath Barai, and the district member secretary of BASAD, Dr. Manisha Chakraborty, spoke among others. The program was held at 11am on Saturday in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city. A protest march was held in the city following the rally.